Gas lighter



H. SCHLAMP Fel. 3, I1970 GAS LIGHTER Filed May 22, 1968 FIG. 3.

FIG. 2. /NvENToR HERMAN scHLAMP BY g/ ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,493,313 GAS LIGHTER Herman Schlamp, Cologne, Germany, assiguor to Ronson gorporation, Woodbridge, NJ., a corporation of New ersey I Filed May 22, 1968, Ser. No. 731,145 Claims priority, applicatiol 6(germany, July 31, 1967,

im. cl. Fsq 2/16 U.S. Cl. 431-255 7 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to improvements in cigarette lighters and the like of the type in which a combustible gas, such as butane, is emitted from a supply tank through a burner or outlet valve upon actuation of the latter, and the emitted gas is ignited |by a spark produced by an ignition unit which is operated in response to displacement of a finger piece or actuating member from its rest position.

n -In existing lighters of the described type, springs are provided for returning the actuating member to its rest position and for returning the outlet valve to its closed position, and coupling members are provided, in addition to the return springs, for connecting the actuating member to the outlet valve so that the latter will be opened simultaneously with the operation of the ignition unit. However, such arrangemens are not fully satisfactory in that the separate return springs and coupling members result in a relatively complex and expensive construction.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to avoid the above objections to the existing arrangements, and more particularly to provide a simple and inexpensive means in lighters of the described type to perform the functions of the previously employed return springs and coupling members.

Another object is to provide a lighter of the described type with a one-piece element which functions as a spring to return the actuating memiber to its rest position and also to couple the outlet valve to the actuating member so that such valve is opened only upon operation of the ignition unit in response to displacement of the actuating member from its rest position.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, a onepiece element for performing the above recited dual functions includes first and second legs connected by a resilient junction and being angularly displaceable with respect to each other from normal relative positions to which they are urged by the resilient junction, and an arm extending from the rst leg and being angularly displaceable with the latter relative to the second leg, the rst and second legs respectively engaging the actuating member of the lighter and a fixed abutment surface on the latter to dispose the actuating member in its rest position when the legs are in their normal relative positions, and the arm engaging the outlet valve to open the latter only upon relative angular displacement of the legs in response to movement of the actuating member from its rest position.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages 3,493,313 Patented Feb. 3, 1970 ICC of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. l is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of a lighter according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of an element included in the lighter 0f FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, similar to the upper portion of FIG. 1, but showing a lighter according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an element included in the lighter of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, it will be seen that a lighter 10 of a type to which this invention may ibe applied generally comprises a fuel tank 11 containing a combustible gas under pressure and being suitably mounted on a conductive base 12 which may form part of a casting for the lighter. The tank 11 is provided with a refill valve 13 and with a conventional burner or outlet valve 14 having a stern 15 and through which gas is allowed to escape when stem 15 is raised from the position shown. In order to ignite gas emitted from outlet valve 14, lighter 10` further comprises an ignition unit 16 shown to be of the piezo-electric type and which is intended to be operated simultaneously with the lifting of valve stem 15 to produce a spark above outlet valve 14 between an electrode 17, which is grounded, as by a conductor 18 extending to base 12, and a spark electrode 19 which is insulated from the base 12 or casing of the lighter.

The ignition unit 16 may be of conventional construction and, as such, forms no part of this invention. Thus, ignition unit 16 is not shown or described in detail herein except in so far as necessary to an understanding of the invention. The ignition unit 16, as illustrated, may include a pair of piezo-electric crystal elements 20 and 21 which are superposed on each other with a central electrode 22 separating their adjacent faces and being connected to spark electrode 19 by way of an insulated conductor 23. The lower piezo-electric element 21 has its end remote from electrode 22 mounted on, and electrically connected to base 12, as by a mounting electrode 24, and the end of element 20 remote from electrode 22 is also suitably in electrically conducting relation to base 12 or to parts of the lighter casing in electrical contact therewith. When piezo-electric crystal elements 20 and 21 are suitably mechanically stressed in the longitudinal direction, there is produced a relatively high potential difference between the central electrode 22 and the base 12 or casing of the lighter which constitutes ground, and such potential difference causes a spark to span the gap between spark electrode 19 and grounded electrode 17.

The mechanical stressing of elements 20 and 21 may be effected by a striking action occurring when a tubular extension 25 of an actuating member or nger piece 26 is depressed downwardly from the position shown. Such striking action is provided by any suitable mechanism located within extension 25, which, merely by way of example, may be of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,200,295.

In accordance with this invention, a lighter ofthe above described type is provided with a one-piece element 27 acting as a spring to return actuating member 26 to its rest position, as shown, and also acting to couple actuating member 26 to valve stem 15 so as to lift the latter, and thereby open outlet valve 14, when actuating member 26 is depressed to operate ignition unit 16.

In the embodiment of FIGS. l and 2, such dual-function element 27 is constituted by a length of spring wire bent to provide a central bight portion 28 defining an arm with a loop 29 (FIG. 2) at the center of its free end to embrace valve stem under a disk or flange 30 secured on the latter to define an annular groove (FIG. 1). The sides 31a and 31b of bight portion 28 are integral with elongated loop portions 32a and 32b, respectively, which define a pair of first legs extending in parallel, laterally spaced relation to each other (FIG. 2). Each of loop portions 32a and 32b includes a straight part 33 extending from the related side 31a or 31b to a bend 34 and a straight return part extending from the bend generally in parallel with the related part 33 to a coil portion 36a or 36b disposed adjacent the connection of the loop portion 32a or 32b to the bight portion 28. Finally, end portions 37a and 37b of the bent length of spring wire extend from the coil portions 36a and 36b, respectively, to define a pair of second legs which are normally disposed in angular relation to the first legs 32a and 32b, respectively. \It will be seen that, in the element 27 of bent spring wire, coil portions 36a and 36h define resilient junctions between rst legs 32a and 32b and second legs 37a and 37b, and further that arm 28 extends from first legs 32a and 32b in a direction generally opposed to the directions that legs 32a and 32b and legs 37a and 37b extend from the resilient junctions therebetween defined by coil portions 36a and 36b.

In the lighter 10, electrodes 17 and 19 are mounted in a head 38 which is disposed above the top 39 of tank 11 and overhangs the outlet valve 14 (FIG. l). Such head 38 has a pivot pin 40 extending laterally therethrough and the ends of pin are received in coil por- V tions 36a and 36b of element 27 to mount the latter with the central loop 29 of its arm or bight portion 28 in engagement with stern 15. When thus mounted, legs 32a and 37a and legs 32b and 37b are disposed at opposite sides of head 38. As shown, legs 32a and 32b engage under actuating member 26 and legs 37a and 37b engage or bear on the top 39 of tank 11 `which forms a fixed abutment surface therefor.

When actuating member 26 is depressed to operate ignition unit 16, legs 32a and 32b of element 27 are angularly displaced relative to the fixed legs 37a and 37b to reduce the angle therebetween, and such relative angular displacement is yieldably resisted by coil portions 36a and 36b. Further, arm or bight portion 28 moves angularly with legs 32a and 32b during the described angular displacement of the latter to act upwardly on disk 30 and thereby raise stem 15 for permitting the escape of gas from valve 14 to be ignited by the spark produced across the gap between electrodes 17 and 19. When actuating member 26 is released, coil portions 36a and 36b act to o to legs 37a and 37b, arm 28 again moves with legs 32a and 32b to lower valve stem 15 to its normal position for sealing valve 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, in which parts corresponding to those shown in FIGS. l and 2 are identified by the same reference numerals but with a prime appended thereto, it will be seen that the one-piece element 27 there disclosed is constituted by a spring strip bent upon itself so that its opposite end portions define normally divergent first and second legs 32 and 37', respectively, connected by the arcuate mid-portion of the bent strip which defines a resilient junction 26 between the legs. An elongated section or tongue of the spring strip is struck from its mid-portion and from the adjacent part of leg 37' and is extended from the other leg 32 in a direction generally opposed to the directions of legs 32' and 37' to define an arm 28 which is bifurcated at its free end to provide a seat 29 in which valve stem 1S may be received.

As shown on FIG. 3, the lighter head 38 in which electrodes 1.7 and 1.9 are mounted may be formed with a slot 41 extending therethrough to receive element 27 with leg 37 of the latter bearing on the bottom surface 42 of the slot, the free end portion of leg 32 engaging under actuating member 26 and slot 29 of arm 28 receiving valve stem 15 under the flange 30' thereon. It will be apparent that, when actuating member 26 is depressed from its rest position shown on FIG. 3, leg 32 is angularly displaced toward leg 37' supported on the fixed abutment surface 42, and arm 28 moves angularly with arm 32 to raise valve stem 15 and thereby permit the escape of gas to be ignited by the spark produced between electrodes 17 and 19. When actuating member 26 is released, the resilience of junction 36 causes the return of leg 32 to its normal angular relation to leg 37 and thereby returns actuating member 26 to its rest position and lowers valve stem 15 for again closing outlet valve 14.

Thus, each of elements 27 and 27 performs the dual functions of yieldably urging the actuating member 26 or 26 to its rest position and of coupling such actuating member to the outlet valve 14 or 14' for opening the latter whenever the actuating member is depressed for operating the ignition unit. It will be apparent that such one-piece elements 27 and 27 may be easily produced and installed to provide substantial economies in the production of lighters of the described character.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing trom the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lighter comprising a tank having an outlet valve means actuable for emitting a gas under pressure from said tank, ignition means operable to produce a spark for igniting the emitted gas and an actuating member displaceable from a rest position to operate said ignition means;

a one-piece element including portions defining first and second leg means connected by resilient junction means and being angularly displaceable with respect to each other from normal relative positions to which said leg means are yieldably urged by said junction means, and arm means extending from said first leg means and Ibeing angularly displaceable with the latter relative to said second leg means, said first and second leg means respectively engaging said actuating member and an abutment surface on the lighter to move said actuating member to said rest position thereof when said first and second leg means are in said normal relative positions, said arm means extending into engagement with said valve means to actuate the latter upon relative angular displacement of said first and second leg means in response to displacement of said actuating kmember from its rest position.

2. A lighter according to claim 1, in which said onepiece element is constituted by a length of bent spring wire having a central bight portion defining said arm means, elongated loop portions extending in parallel, spaced relation from the opposite sides of said bight portion and defining said first leg means, coil portions integral with said loop portions to define said resilient junction means, and end portions extending from said coil portions and being normally maintained by the latter in angular relation to elongated loop portions.

3. A lighter according to claim 2, further including a pivot pin extending through said coil portions.

4. A lighter according to claim 2, in which Said bight portion extends from said loop portions in a direction generally opposed to the directions said loop portions and end portions extend from said coil portions.

5. A lighter according to claim 1, in which said onepiece element is constituted by a spring strip bent upon itself so that its opposite end portions define said lirst and second leg means, respectively, the mid-portion of said bent strip being arcuate to dene said resilient junction means, and said arm means is defined by an elongated section of said spring strip struck from said mid-portion and at least an adjacent part of one of said end portions and being integrally joined to the other of said end portions adjacent said mid-portion, said elongated section extending from said mid-portion in a direction which is generally opposed to the directions of said end portions.

6. A lighter according to claim 1, in which said arm means extends from said rst leg means in a direction that is generally opposed to the directions said first and second leg means extend from said junction meansg 5 difference to produce said spark.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1965 Buitkus 431-255 3,425,783 2/1969 Goto 431-264 X EDWARD G. FAVORS, Primary Examiner U,S. Cl. 

